Originally Posted by
dojetdriver
How far west to east? Depends on the service between home and work, the type of line you can hold, show and release times, ect.
I did PHL - SOCAL for a while. There were three daily non-stop airbuses (2 jumpseats) plus a couple of 2-leg connections on another airline. I had non-rev status on both of the airlines.
I think I only had to use my back-up flight a couple times, but the buses were usually full, so I spent a LOT of time in the jumpseat (usually with a second jumpseater too).
I would say it is doable if you have company non-stops (preferably buses, that 2nd JS saved the day on many occasions). I would do it again if I had to start at the junior base of a good airline, but only if there were western bases that I could get into eventually. I would not commit myself to a lifetime of transcon commutting. My real problem is I don't like spending 6-8 hours in the back or in a JS.